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Today in History 01/26/17

Portrait of Vicente Yáñez Pinzón (© De Agostini Picture Library/G. Dagli Orti/Getty Images)(1500) Spain’s Pinzón is first European to land in Brazil
Captain of the ‘Nina’ during Columbus’ first New World voyage, Vicente Yáñez Pinzón’s current sail takes him to Brazil’s northeastern coast and a short exploration of the mouth of the Amazon River.
Vicente Yáñez Pinzón was a Spanish navigator, explorer, and conquistador, the youngest of the Pinzón brothers. Along with his older brother, Martín Alonso Pinzón, who captained the Pinta, he sailed with Christopher Columbus on the first voyage to the New World, in 1492, as captain of the Niña.
Born: 1462 · Palos de la Frontera, Spain
Died: 1514 · Triana, Seville, Spain
Spouse: Ana Núñez de Trujillo (m. 1509) · Teresa Rodríguez
Siblings: Martín Alonso Pinzón (Brother)
Children: Ana Rodríguez (Daughter) · Juana González (Daughter)
Parents: Martín Pinzón (Father) · Mayor Vicente (Mother)

wiki/Vicente_Yáñez_Pinzón
President Rajendra Prasad prepares to take part in the first Republic Day parade in Rajpath, New Delhi, in 1950 (Via Wikimedia Commons)(1950) India becomes a republic
After thousands of years of monarchy, centuries of British rule, and much religious and social strife leading up to it, India adopts a constitution and becomes the world’s most populous democracy.
Republic Day honors the date on which the Constitution of India came into effect on 26 January 1950 replacing the Government of India Act as the governing document of India. The Constitution was adopted by the Indian Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949, and came into effect on 26 January 1950 with a democratic government system, completing the country’s transition towards becoming an independent republic. 26 January was chosen as the Republic day because it was on this day in 1930 when Declaration of Indian Independence was proclaimed by the Indian National Congress as opposed to the Dominion status offered by British Regime.
wiki/Republic_Day_(India)
The Majestic Theatre in New York showing 'The Phantom of the Opera,' circa 1980s (© Tom Wargacki/WireImage/Getty Images)(1988) ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ opens on Broadway
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s hit West End musical transfers to Broadway. It will go on to be Broadway’s longest-running show and cited as the most financially successful event in entertainment history.
The Phantom of the Opera is a musical with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Charles Hart with additions from Richard Stilgoe. Lloyd Webber and Stilgoe also wrote the musical’s book together. Based on the French novel Le Fantôme de l’Opéra by Gaston Leroux, its central plot revolves around a beautiful soprano, Christine Daaé, who becomes the obsession of a mysterious, disfigured musical genius.
Authors: Andrew Lloyd Webber · Richard Stilgoe
First performed: Oct 09, 1986
Adaptations: The Phantom of the Opera (2004) · The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall (2011)

wiki/The_Phantom_of_the_Opera_(1986_musical)
President Bill Clinton denying improper behavior with Monica Lewinsky during a press conference on Jan. 26, 1998 (© Harry Hamburg/NY Daily News via Getty Images)(1998) Clinton “did not have sexual relations” with Lewinsky
Under fire from accusations he had an affair with a White House intern, President Bill Clinton issues a strong denial during a televised press conference. Just seven months later he will admit involvement.
The Lewinsky scandal was an American political sex scandal that involved 49-year-old President Bill Clinton and a 22-year-old White House intern, Monica Lewinsky. The sexual relationship took place between 1995 and 1996 and came to light in 1998. Clinton ended a televised speech with the statement that he did not have sexual relations with Lewinsky. Further investigation led to charges of perjury and led to the impeachment of President Clinton in 1998 by the U.S. House of Representatives and his subsequent acquittal on all impeachment charges of perjury and obstruction of justice in a 21-day Senate trial. Clinton was held in civil contempt of court by Judge Susan Webber Wright for giving misleading testimony in the Paula Jones case regarding Lewinsky, and was also fined $90,000 by Wright. His license to practice law was suspended in Arkansas for five years and later by the United States Supreme Court.
During Clinton’s first term in 1995, Lewinsky—a graduate of Lewis & Clark College—was hired to work as an intern at the White House and was later an employee of the White House Office of Legislative Affairs. While Lewinsky worked at the White House, Clinton began a personal relationship with her, the details of which she later confided to Linda Tripp, her Defense Department co-worker who secretly recorded their telephone conversations.
In January 1998, Tripp discovered that Lewinsky had sworn an affidavit in the Paula Jones case, denying a relationship with Clinton. She delivered the tapes to Kenneth Starr, the Independent Counsel who was investigating Clinton on other matters, including the Whitewater scandal, the White House FBI files controversy, and the White House travel office controversy. During the grand jury testimony Clinton’s responses were carefully worded, and he argued, “It depends on what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is,” with regard to the truthfulness of his statement that “there is not a sexual relationship, an improper sexual relationship or any other kind of improper relationship.”
The wide reporting of the scandal led to criticism of the press for over-coverage. The scandal is sometimes referred to as Monicagate, “Lewinskygate,” “Tailgate,” “Sexgate,” and “Zippergate,” following the “-gate” nickname construction that has been popular since the Watergate scandal.
The improper relationship between Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky was confirmed, but Clinton’s marriage with his wife, Hillary Clinton, survived the scandal.
wiki/I_did_not_have_sexual_relations_with_that_woman
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